S.I. MAIN TRUNK.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18265, 26 December 1924, Page 10

S.I. MAIN TRUNK.

♦ COMPLETION OF GAP.

INTER-ISLAND TRAIN

FERRY. RAILWAY COMMISSIONER'S VIEWS. Under ihe heading, 'New lines," die Railway Commission (Sir Sam Fay and Sir Vincent Raven) deals with the importance of completing the gap in the South Island Main Trunk' Line, between Ward and Parnassus, and makej reference to the importance of an inter-island train ferry in linking up the railway system of the Dominion. The Commission's remarks are as follows :

The location and order of construction of new lines for developmental purposes are questions upon which we do not feel competent to express a decided opinion; only those who know the countrv and its possibilities are competent" to offer .suggestions of value upon these subjects; there is, however, one important link in the chain cf railway communication upon which wo think it desirable to express an opinion—viz., that of the gap between Ward and Parnassus. It is riot so much in the local advantage of such a line that we view its completion as of greater importance than some other railways upon which considerable sums have been" spent; it is because of the possibilities offered by its construction of making a complete railway transport svstem between all parts of tho North and South Islands without change of carriage in the case of passengers or break of bulk or delay in the incidence of goods traffic that we advocate its construction. With this line in being, a train ferry between Pk-ton and Wellington (or, if possible, a hay with sheltered water and easily available hy a short railwav nearer the South Island) would giro all the advantages of throughout rail transit between the two Islands. Some day, no doubt, this form of communication will bo established. The sooner it is done, looked at from a railway administration point of view only, tho earlier will be the time when it will he possible to operate the system as a whole as economically and efficiently as in countries where lines are not'disjointed. The public aspect needs but little demonstration. Throughout communication would make tho two Islands ono in so far as transport is concerned. Internal trade would benefit by through rates and fares, and avoidance of break of bulk. The cost of landing stations and ferry boats canaWc of convoying upwards of fiftv ordinary goods vehicles, need not entail \erv great expenditure in proportion to the advantages foreshadowed and the prospects of revenue to bo obtained. Probably £500,000 would b© found sufficient. Wherever train ferries have been provided thov liavo doveloped travel and traffic to a very much greater extent than obtained under former shipping conditions. Between Denmark and Sweden, Germany and Sweden, in North and South"America, this form of bridging the seas has been adopted with success. Recently a train-ferry service has commenced to run across the North Sea between Harwich and Zeebrugge.